Low inductance transverse gradient system of restricted length

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Physics

Background:

• Gradient coils are essential components in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) systems.
• Existing gradient coil designs may have limitations in terms of uniformity, inductance, or physical size, restricting their application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a new transverse gradient coil assembly with a restricted length.
• To highlight the coil's design advantages, including symmetry, simplicity, and a large uniform transverse gradient field volume.
• To assess the suitability of this coil for applications demanding fast switched gradients.

Main Methods:

• Design and construction of a prototype transverse gradient coil assembly.
• Computer simulations to predict coil performance.
• Experimental measurements to validate simulated parameters and assess the coil's characteristics.

Main Results:

• The presented coil assembly is symmetric and simple in design.
• It generates a remarkably large volume of uniform transverse gradient field.
• The coil exhibits very low inductance, enabling fast gradient switching.

Conclusions:

• The new transverse gradient coil assembly is well-suited for applications requiring fast switched gradients.
• Potential applications include MRI of the human head and animals, as well as NMR microimaging.
• The coil's design offers a practical solution for advanced imaging techniques.